Manning Wardles "YEO" and "EXE" new-build

Nah they took one look at it in Brazil and dumped it in the sea.

Tim

 

Sorry, but the issue of what happened to LEW isn't really relevant to this thread.

This has been fully discussed elsewhere. For the full, unexpurgated story, see HERE...

Oh, and there is a brief mention of the new project on the 762 Club website.

 

Ah, you got me

 

As the statement says, there were originally four...

 

Strange that there is no announcement from the L&B

 

From what I gathered via the magazine, the folks at the L&B are planning to officially launch this project during the coming autumn steam gala, so I suppose it would make sense that they don't want to go too in-depth or indeed mention it on their website till after the official launch.

Of course if that's the case, I know folks will surely ask why didn't they not keep it hush hush till the gala then, instead of giving Steam Railway an exclusive? The answer to that I figure must be just that, it was an exclusive arrangement with the magazine, in return for them featuring their project prominently in the latest issue, as well as sponsor the manufacture of the number and name plates of the pair to be built. A nice enough arrangement I'd say, certainly will be nice to show these plates for the official launch day of the project.

 

There is an announcement in the 'members' section of the L&B website, and also on the front page of the 762 Club website.

 

From what I have seen of any new build project, even having a single bolt, piece of plate seems to spur things on. There's that wonderful feeling of "Well you wouldn't want these bits to go to waste now, would you?" about it.

 

Very true, it doesn't take much to get us enthusiasts all excited and eager to get things started. Still I suppose for the general public at least, seeing a nameplate of something you intend to build does tend to hold that bit more value. Folks do love it when you have a named loco, and few could forget as simple of names as Yeo and Exe.

Personally my favourite names of the original 4 Manning Wardles is Yeo and Taw, there's something about those two names that just sticks out more to me.

Have to say it'll be great to see one in the original L&B livery, as it's such a handsome look on them from what I've seen. And I believe the intent is for Yeo to appear in that guise, specifically with the Southern Railway number plates and added brass work, for apparently it was sometime before they were all painted in SR olive green. Certainly then it'll allow us eventually to have a truly authentic L&B period train, minus the the slight SR period differences that will be on the loco.

 

[QUOTE

Have to say it'll be great to see one in the original L&B livery, as it's such a handsome look on them from what I've seen. And I believe the intent is for Yeo to appear in that guise, specifically with the Southern Railway number plates and added brass work, for apparently it was sometime before they were all painted in SR olive green. Certainly then it'll allow us eventually to have a truly authentic L&B period train, minus the the slight SR period differences that will be on the loco.[/QUOTE]

That's the first reference I've seen to Yeo appearing in original livery. That depends on what you mean by "original". This is the livery "as built":-




AIUI the livery was changed to Holly Green with simplified lining when the cab and bunkers were altered:-




although I might have seen "red lining edged black"rather than the yellow shown?
The cab was cut back and the bunker enclosed as there was a trap for steam and smoke to gather and obscure the forward view. I think it was also an attempt to improve the weight distribution by carrying coal in side bunkers rather than the rear one. Nevertheless, I'd love to see Yeo built in original condition with the first livery - time will tell!

 

Ah nice to see the clear differences, first time I've seen one as built as well as the very first livery they carried.

But yes I believe from what I read both Yeo and Exe will be built to the later form you have in the second (bottom) picture, with Yeo likely to be turned out in that dark green L&B guise. That's what seems to be the intention at any rate, it could well however nearer the time.

Oddly they added rather ominously in the article how Exe will appear in "something else", which I can only assume has to be Southern Railway olive green, much like how Lyn and Lyd is.
Either that or we get that unique BR Black Lyd carried for a time again... that would be different to say the least.

 

Ominous? I read that slightly differently. The L&B already has a Southern Railway era loco in LYN. I foresee YEO in early SR livery - no "SOUTHERN" on the tanks, and EXE in late-independent Holly Green (as shown above).

Once these two are completed, personally, I'd like the next two to be LEW in as-built Southern livery, and TAW (as shown above) as delivered in 1897, with original cab, covered motions, and the intricate, fully-lined Victorian paint scheme.

As for the accompanying carriages...

 

The SR number plates have been ordered, which could mean the Yeo has the mid 1920s intermediate livery rather than the Holly green. They'll look superb.

 

Well perhaps ominous was the wrong choice of words to say at the time, and I'm not entirely fully familiar with all the variations of liveries the Manning Wardles carried in their time. Initially I thought it was just the L&B Holy Green, then later the SR Olive Green. Clearly however as today has shown me, there's actually a lot more to it then that, so lesson well learned on my end.

I'd quite fancy seeing Taw in it's as built original form too actually, having seen in the image above just how great a look it is, certainly most distinctive.

In fact actually by going this route of livery choices, this would allow us to have each individual engine standout on it's own, as well as give us a visual guide in the history and development of the original fine machines during their working lives. The exception to that though would be Lew and Lyn, as they would share the same sort of livery if we follow this current train of thought, but that's not much a problem. Lyn stands out on it's own in any livery.

 

if i read the article in steam railway correctly,after these two loco's are finished,taw and lew will be next

 

How many locos does the L&B need?

 

Historically, five.

 

Even by NP standards, this thread is hitting every cliche in record time. Two pages of livery froth and now we have moved on to building locos 3 and 4 while 1 and 2 are still on the drawing board.

Rather more germane: how are the first two to be funded, and how do people support the project? I’d have imagined those promoting the scheme would be trying to get that information out into the wild in preference to another discussion about what colour green they’ll be painted.

Tom

 

The article in Steam Railway itself refers to the second phase of this project, TAW and LEW, so I don't think discussion here is inappropriate - the plan calls for five sets of cylinders to be built, for example, so we are looking ahead.

The funding model will be substantially the same as for LYN - a combination of corporate and individual sponsorship of components, and "762 Club" membership. Remember, the official launch isn't due until the end of September.

 

Why 5 sets of cylinders for (eventually) 4 locos? I know it would be cheaper to have lots cast at once, but I would've thought the expense of having a set cast just as a spare would be better spent elsewhere. With modern metallurgy/quality control/x-ray inspection and cnc machining, I would've thought the chances of cylinder failure requiring replacement would be pretty low.
Assuming what we've read is correct so far regarding the locos being new rather than replicas, would the FR pattern be of any use as I would assume that any "new design" would use piston valves?
Also, if one was to be really pedantic, shouldn't the locos have new names/numbers since they are getting new works numbers and aren't replicas of 759 Yeo or 760 Exe? (just being mischievous here before anyone gets their knickers in a twist!)

Keith